A Leader in Research to Prevent Blindness

The Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology

The Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, founded by Alfred Sommer, M.D., M.H.S.,is a leader in global and domestic research on blindness prevention and the only World Health Organization collaborating center in the United States. Our center guides research-based programmatic activities and educates future leaders to alleviate unnecessary blindness worldwide.

Our faculty includes ophthalmologists, epidemiologists, statisticians, programmers, project coordinators and administrative personnel. Together, our mission is to prevent avoidable visual disability and blindness around the globe by conducting valuable research, using sound public health policies and programs, and training the next generation of leaders in public health ophthalmology.

Research at the Dana Center focuses on national and international public health prevention of blinding eye disease.

News and Upcoming Events

2017 Dana Center Meeting: What are the Next Steps in Public Health Ophthalmology

Dana Center alumni and invited guests met at Johns Hopkins to discuss important public health issues in eye care. This invitation-only event featured a lunch reception, discussions about trachoma, cataract and low vision, updates by graduates of the Dana Center, a tour of the Dana Center and the Wilmer Eye Institute, and a post-event gathering at the house of Dr. David Friedman.See photos from the event.

ARVO is coming to Baltimore

The Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest gathering of eye and vision researchers in the world, attracting over 11,000 attendees from more than 75 countries. Learn more.

Our Impact

Vision for Baltimore | BREDS Research Breeds Partnership

A unique partnership will provide free eyeglasses and vision screenings for pre-kindergarteners to eighth-graders in all Baltimore City public schools, and includes a three-year study of how eyeglasses affect reading skills and academic performance.

Stop Glaucoma | David S. Friedman PSA

David S. Friedman, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., director of The Dana Center, discusses a free eye screening program throughout Baltimore City that is also looking to detect glaucoma in individuals who may not know they have the condition.